Document Type
Article
Department
Family Medicine (East Africa); Population Health (East Africa); Pathology (East Africa); Internal Medicine (East Africa)
Abstract
Introduction: Acute uncomplicated urinary tract infections are common in outpatient settings but are not treated optimally. Few studies of the outpatient use of antibiotics for specifc diagnoses have been done in sub-Saharan Africa, so little is known about the prescribing patterns of medical ofcers in the region.
Methods: Aga Khan University has 16 outpatient clinics throughout the Nairobi metro area with a medical ofcer specifcally assigned to that clinic. A baseline assessment of evaluation and treatment of suspected UTI was performed from medical records in these clinics. Then the medical ofcer from each of the 16 clinics was recruited from each clinic was recruited with eight each randomized to control vs. feedback groups. Both groups were given a multimodal educational session including locally adapted UTI guidelines and emphasis on problems identifed in the baseline assessment Each record was scored using a scoring system that was developed for the study according to adequacy of history, physical examination, clinical diagnosis matching recorded data, diagnostic workup and treatment. Three audits were done for both groups; baseline (audit 1), post-CME (audit 2), and a fnal audit, which was after feedback for the feedback group (audit 3). The primary analysis assessed overall guideline adherence in the feedback group versus the CME only group.
Results: The overall scores in both groups showed signifcant improvement after the CME in comparison to baseline and for each group, the scores in most domains also improved. However, audit 3 showed persistence of the gains attained after the CME but no additional beneft from the feedback. Some defciencies that persisted throughout the study included lack of workup of possible STI and excess use of non-UTI laboratory tests such as CBC, stool culture and H. pylori Ag. After the CME, the use of nitrofurantoin rose from only 4% to 8% and cephalosporin use increased from 49 to 67%, accompanied by a drop in quinolone use.
Conclusion:The CME led to modest improvements in patient care in the categories of history taking, treatment and investigations, but feedback had no additional efect. Future studies should consider an enforcement element or a more intensive feedback approach.
Publication (Name of Journal)
BMC Infectious Diseases volume
DOI
https://doi.org/10.1186/s12879-023-08567-4
Recommended Citation
Mbatia, F.,
Orwa, J.,
Adam, M. B.,
Mohamoud, G.,
Adam, R.
(2023). Outpatient management of urinary tract infections by medical officers in Nairobi, Kenya: lack of benefit from audit and feedback on adherence to treatment guidelines. BMC Infectious Diseases volume, 23(608), 1-12.
Available at:
https://ecommons.aku.edu/eastafrica_fhs_mc_fam_med/57
Creative Commons License
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.